Bolivia Travel Guide

The Bolivian unit of currency is the boliviano (Bs). Besides coins with values of 1 and 2 bolivianos, all the currency is paper, in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. It's very hard to make change, especially for a 100Bs note. If you are retrieving money from an ATM, be sure to request a denomination ending in 50. Restaurants seem to be the only places in the country capable of changing large bills.

Here's a general idea of what things cost in La Paz: A taxi within the center of town, $1; a double room at a budget hotel with private bathroom, $15 to $30; a double room at a moderate hotel with private bathroom, $40 to $65; a double room at an expensive hotel, $100 to $200; fresh juice on the street, 35¢; a 36-exposure roll of film, $4; a three-course lunch for one at a cafe, $2; a three-course dinner for one, $6 to $9.

Currency Exchange & Rates -- When reviewed, the boliviano was trading at a rate of 8.07Bs to US$1. The boliviano has been relatively stable for the past few years. You should note, however, that Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, and with the growing worldwide economic slump, it's hard to predict what will happen in the future.

When exchanging foreign currency in Bolivia, it's best to head to a casa de cambio (money-exchange house). Some banks will exchange American dollars and British pounds, but the lines are often long and the process can be chaotic. U.S. dollars are widely accepted throughout Bolivia, especially at hotels and restaurants. All hotel rates are quoted in U.S. dollars.

ATMs -- ATMs are ubiquitous in Bolivia, except in small towns such as Coroico, Sorata, and Copacabana. Major banks include Banco Santa Cruz and Banco de Crédito; there are Citibank branches in both La Paz and Santa Cruz. Most ATMs accept cards on the Cirrus (tel. 800/424-7787) and PLUS (tel. 800/843-7587) networks; however, they can't deal with PINs that are more than four digits. Before you go to Bolivia, make sure that your PIN fits the bill.

Traveler's Checks -- Citibank will exchange its own traveler's checks. But you can't change American Express traveler's checks at the American Express offices in Bolivia (sounds strange, but it's true). If you're traveling with traveler's checks, your best bet is to cash them at a casa de cambio. Most upscale hotels and restaurants in Bolivia will accept traveler's checks. For lost American Express traveler's checks, you must call collect to the United States at tel. 801/964-6665.

Credit Cards -- MasterCard and Visa are accepted most everywhere in Bolivia. American Express is less common, but it's still widely accepted. To report a lost or stolen MasterCard, call tel. 0800-0172; for Visa, tel. 0800-0188; for American Express, call tel. 800/327-1267 (via an AT&T operator).